What is polybutene and is it tested on animals?

Answer 1

Polybutene is a synthetic polymer created by the polymerisation of n-butylene and isobutylene. It is generally in liquid form, with the most common grades ranging from thin liquids with a viscosity similar to that of a motor oil, up to very thick liquids with a consistency similar to that of treacle (although they are colourless).

Their main area of application is as modifers for other polymers, tackifiers for adhesives, a base for a very thick sticky grease used inside telecom cables to keep water out, and as a viscosity index improver for motor oil (keeps the viscosity high at higher temperatures so that it protects the engine more effectively).

Polybutene is not generally used for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food based or human contact applications, so there the only animal testing would likely be for the purposes of creating a safety data sheet (LD 50 test or similar). The standard production or quality control testing of polybutene wouldn't require animal testing.